Ergonomic silicone wedding ring

ABSTRACT

The present invention is an ergonomic silicone wedding ring comprising thinner, more ergonomic and comfortable dimensions and shape, i.e. curved edges, than prior silicone rings.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The U.S. application Ser. No. 15/479,697 filed on even date herewith is hereby incorporated by reference.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a molded ring and a method of making the ring. In particular, it relates to a ring and method of making a silicone ring that is more ergonomic and more durable than previous molded silicone rings.

Description of Related Art

The wearing of a wedding band is historically wide-spread. To avoid the risks of wearing a conventional metal wedding band, silicone wedding bands provide a safe and cost effective alternative since it is resistant to extreme temperature, resistant to abrasions and chemicals and more comfortable than a metal wedding band.

These rings are being molded in all sorts of colors and styles. This includes multiband rings, rings imbedded with other materials or just plain silicone bands. In general, the process utilized to make these rings leaves the ring with flat edges and an uncomfortable thickness.

While the rings are not as expensive as metal rings, one doesn't want their rings to be replaced when they have sentimental value of any kind because of comfort issues. The flat edges are uncomfortable and not very ergonomic. In addition, existing silicone ring bands have been observed with thicknesses of up to approximately 2.5 mm, which can be uncomfortable, less ergonomic and in some cases, rendering it nonfunctional to the wearer.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new shape and thickness of silicone rings which alleviates the problems of current rings in the marketplace. By molding them with rounded edges and a thickness of from about 1.25 mm to no more than 2 mm, it has been discovered that the rings are more ergonomic, comfortable, and can be worn much longer that previous silicone rings. Accordingly, there is a new silicone ring comprising each outer edge being curved and wherein the thickness of the band at its widest part is between about 1.25 mm and 2 mm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a ring of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross section of a ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure of such embodiments is to be considered as an example of the principles and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the description below, like reference numerals are used to describe the same, similar or corresponding parts in the several views of the drawings. This detailed description defines the meaning of the terms used herein and specifically describes embodiments in order for those skilled in the art to practice the invention.

Definitions

The terms “about” and “essentially” mean±10 percent.

The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or as more than one. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two or as more than two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled”, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.

The term “comprising” is not intended to limit inventions to only claiming the present invention with such comprising language. Any invention using the term comprising could be separated into one or more claims using “consisting” or “consisting of” claim language and is so intended.

Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment”, “certain embodiments”, and “an embodiment” or similar terms means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of such phrases or in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments without limitation.

The term “or” as used herein is to be interpreted as an inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B or C” means any of the following: “A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C”. An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.

The drawings featured in the figures are for the purpose of illustrating certain convenient embodiments of the present invention, and are not to be considered as limitation thereto. Term “means” preceding a present participle of an operation indicates a desired function for which there is one or more embodiments, i.e., one or more methods, devices, or apparatuses for achieving the desired function and that one skilled in the art could select from these or their equivalent in view of the disclosure herein and use of the term “means” is not intended to be limiting.

As used herein the term “silicone ring” refers to a wedding style finger ring as shown in the Figures. In this invention, the ring is made differently than previous rings to create a more ergonomic and comfortable ring. The present rings have rounded edges (unlike the flat edges of previous rings), and, at the thickest part, they are no more than 2 mm thick. In one embodiment, the present rings are from about 1.25 mm to 2 mm thick and in another embodiment, they are about 1.8 mm thick. These bands, when compared to prior art bands, which are 2.5 mm thick on each side, are about 1.5 mm thinner, counting both sides, leading to overall thinner diameter and thus more comfortable and ergonomic ring. The molds used to make them are adapted accordingly to provide these embodiments.

As used herein the term “compression molding” refers to the method of forming and molding the rings of the invention by using both pressure and heat on polymers, like the silicone bands of the present invention. The present invention rings are made using techniques similar to TOUG001 but with a single band, or whatever color or additions necessary, wherein there are rounded edges and thin bands. These rings can be a single band or multiple bands and can include any additives, and the like, as long as they meet the ergonomic and comfort requirements of the present invention.

DRAWINGS

Now referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a front perspective of a ring of the present invention. In this view, ring 1 has a band of silicone 2 wherein each edge 5 has a curved (and not flat) surface outer edges, which is ergonomic in design. Thickness 8 is relatively thin in this embodiment, about 1.8 mm.

FIG. 2 is a cross section of formed ring 1. The width 8 of these bands is thinner than the prior art bands and thus more comfortable and ergonomic. The width is measured at the widest point on the bands.

Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make modifications resulting in other embodiments employing principles of the present invention without departing from its spirit or characteristics, particularly upon considering the foregoing teachings. Accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive, and the scope of the present invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description or drawings. Consequently, while the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, modifications of structure, sequence, materials and the like apparent to those skilled in the art still fall within the scope of the invention as claimed by the applicant. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A silicone ring comprising each outer edge being curved and wherein the thickness of the band at its widest part is between about 1.25 mm and 2 mm.
 2. The ring according to claim 1 wherein the ring has a thickness at the widest part of about 1.8 mm. 